High speed bending means



Sept. 5, 1967- A. SOMMER HIGH SPEED BENDING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNOV. 17, 1964 FIG3 F|G4 INVENTOR.

AL BERT SOMME R Sept. 5, 1967 A. SOMMER 3,339,390

HIGH SPEED BENDING MEANS Filed Nov. -,17, 1964 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MOTORFl (5 2 INVENTOR ALBERT SOMMER 7 United States Patent M 3,339,390 HIGHSPEED BENDING MEANS Albert Summer, 124 N. 7th St, New Hyde Park, N.Y.11040 Filed Nov. 17, 1964, Ser- No. 411,826 6 Claims. (Cl. 72133)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is a high speed machine forbending rivets. The rivets are mounted in notches in a circular tablewhich is driven past a roller. The rivets are forced over the roller andthey are bent.

This invention relates to high speed precision bending means forelongated members such as rivets, screws, nails, or the like.

More particularly the invention relates to means for bending elongatedblanks such as rivets, screws, nails and so forth with a die roller.

Prior apparatus to perform this operation generally comprised punchpresses which due to their intermittent operation were not capable ofhigh speed.

The present invention generally comprises a round table or dial which isrotatably mounted to rotate about a vertical axis. The table is notchedto hold the work pieces around the periphery. Underneath the table onone side is mounted a die roller. The roller is positioned to performthe required bending of the work pieces by rolling contact, as the tablerotates past the roller. Due to the rolling contact, the surface of thework pieces are not marked in any manner. The roller is mounted foraxial movement in order to accommodate the circular travel ofthe workpieces. Adjustable shim means are provided A for locating the height ofthe roller below the table in order to vary the device for differentsize elements and.

different angles of bending.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new andimproved high speed precision bending work pieces are not marked in anymanner.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved bendingmeans having a roller die cooperating with a rotatable work holder, theroller die being axially movable in order to accommodate the circularmotion of the work piece.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and These and otherobjects of the invention will be appar- 3,339,390 Patented Sept. 5, 1967ent from the following specification and drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines of 2-2 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show various work pieces bent to different angles by theapparatus.

Referring to the figures, the invention generally comprises a table ordial 1, which has notches equally spaced around the periphery for thepurpose of holding the work pieces. Other equivalent work holding meansmay be used. The table is keyed to a vertical spindle 2, by means of thekey 3. The spindle 2 has an integral collar 2', which is provided tomount the dial spacer 4. The spindle 2 is mounted in a solid frame 5 bymeans of double taper roller bearings 6 which are secured to the base 5by means of the gland plate 7. A thrust bearing 8 and thrust bearing nut9 secure the spindle to the bottom of the base 5. The spindle extendsout of the bottom and is connected to a motor 10 through a gear reducingdevice or torque converter 11, which may be conventional. A gearreduction of 40:1 has been used in one embodiment. The upper end of thespindle 2 is secured to the solid frame by means of the needle bearing12 which is secured by nut 12'. The purpose of the bearings is to securethe spindle very accurately in the vertical plane.

The bending roller 14 has a hemispherical notch and is mounted on a dieplate 15 on a shaft 16 and the die plate 15 is cut out so the roller hasclearance to move axially along the shaft 16. The reason for this isthat the work piece engages the roller and the table is moving in acircular direction, the roller must move axially in order to accommodatethe circular motion of the work pieces. As the work piece passes theroller generates on elliptical curve. The die plate 15 is secured to theframe 5 by means of the bolts 20 and 21.

The notches 22, 23, etc. on the table or dial 2, are formed toaccommodate the particular work piece and shaped and sized toaccommodate the rivet or nail 24, the notch being smaller than the rivethead. The rivets or nails are fed down the chute 25 by conventionalfeeding means. For instance, the chute 25 may be connected to aconventional hopper of the vibrating type and the chute is preferablyinclined and preferably vibrated to smoothly feed a line of rivets downthe chute. Therefore, as the table 2 rotates counter-clockwise, thenotches 22 and 23 each pick up one of the work pieces and moves it pastthe die block 15 into contact with the die roller 14. The notches arebeveled on their leading edge to permit easy entry of the rivets.

As the work piece passes the die roller, it is bent with a rollingcontact and the die roller moves in and out axially to accommodate thecircular motion of the work piece. The work pieces are then carriedaround past the die block 15 where they may fall out into a receivingchute, not shown. If the members do not fall out of the notches bygravity, which is likely because they are pressed fairly securely intothe notches, then they are removed by the ejector means which comprisesan elongated member 27 mounted on the frame which bears against the topof rivet or other blank and forces them out of the notches into adischarge chute.

The present apparatus is designed for high speed operation and with asmooth motion. In other words, the table moves at substantially constantspeed and the spindle is securely fastened by the bearings at the topand bottom so that the work pieces may be bent to a very close tolerancewith smooth speed. Since the feed is smooth and there is no intermittentmotion, a very high speed can be obtained for instance, of the order ofseveral hundred pieces a minute which is considerably more than can beobtained with intermittent type motion such as used in punch presses.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show various work pieces 30, 31 bent to different anglesby the apparatus. The angle is determined by the length of the piece andthe spacing between the table and roller. The spacing is set by shims onthe table and roller.

In operation, the blanks are fed automatically from any vibrator orbarrel type hoppers, into an inclined track 25 which is preferablyadjustable for any diameter of blanks. Feeding is preferably actuated onthe inclined track by any type of vibrator to induce a natural gravityflow.

The track extends through main housing 5 which is cylindrical in formand contains an elongated opening for the track. The track transportssaid blanks into dial or table 1 which is mounted on the main spindle 2and rotated by a torque converter 11 of any standard type, underneaththe thrust bearing 8 adjustment nut 9. The power transmission spindle 2is connected to dial 1 with key 3.

The cycle begins with a trapped blank 24 in slot 24' in dial 1 driven byspindle 2. The blank after leaving the track 25 is then trapped betweendie 15 and dial slot 24'. As the blank is transported past thesemi-circular die 15, it passes over bending roller 14 which is securedto rotate freely on shaft 16 and the bending operation takes place.After the blank is bent it continues to the ejection means 27.

The ejector 27 is mounted with screws in an elongated opening on themain housing 5. The constantly moving dial 1, rotates the blanks intocontact with the ejector which strips the blanks from the slots.

The rigidity of the spindle is accomplished by the taper roller bearings6, a thrust bearing 8 on the underside of the main housing 5 and theupper spindle is controlled with a needle bearing 12 to which isattached a spanning cap 5' connected to frame 5. These give the desiredrigidity and allow a high speed rotary motion to transmit bending actionwhile still maintaining the spindle perpendicular to a very closetolerance.

High production speeds are possible due to no loss of interruption ofmotion, through the use of said dial. The dial is a constant speedmotion and the velocity never changes due to the torque converter. Whileone blank enters the dial, one blank is being bent and another blank isbeing ejected by the ejector all with smooth constant speed motion.

The dimensions and form of dial 1 and roller size and spacing aredetermined by blank diameter, length of blank and length of bend.

The circular die 15 is made with the center line of thrust shaft 16 atthe necessary depth. The bending roller 5 is made of a good grade oftool steel with a semicircular groove on the periphery of the roller tocorrespond to the blank diameter. The dial 1 is bearing mounted solidlyin the main housing 5 for a solid foundation which will maintain aconstant locking system,

While the dial rotates and transports the blank through v the cycle. Theshims for the table and roller can be determined for any length of bendor angle of bend.

The bending roller 14 is constructed and positioned to float laterallyon the thrust shaft so that an elliptical curve is generated due to thelength of the blank at the beginning and at the bending point. Thesemi-circular groove at the periphery of the bending roller isconstructed to allow generation of an elliptical curve in conjunctionwith lateral movement of the bending roller. This combination allows ablank to be bent without surface imperfections or excessive stresses atthe bending angles. This invention assures repeatability of toleranceswhether or not the dial is fully loaded.

Many modifications may be made by those who desire to practice theinvention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined bythe following claims.

I claim:

1. Means for bending rivets comprising a round table rotatably mountedfor rotation about a vertical axis,

means to rotate said table,

rivet holding means spaced around the periphery of said table,

a notched roller rotatably mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis,

said roller being located and extending under the end of said table sothat the ends of the said rivets extending below said table come incontact with said notched roller end and are bent as said rivet passessaid roller.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises notchesin the edge of said table.

3. Means for bending elongated members comprising a round tablerotatably mounted for rotation about a vertical axis,

means to rotate said table,

member holding means spaced around the periphery of said table,

a notched roller rotatably mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis,

said roller being located and extending under the end of said table sothat the ends of said members extending below said table come in contactwith said notched roller end and are bent as said member passes saidroller.

4. Means for bending elongated members comprising a round tablerotatably mounted for rotation about a vertical axis,

means to rotate said table,

member holding means spaced around the periphery of said table,

a notched roller rotatably mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis,

said roller being located and extending under the end of said table sothat the ends of the said members extending below said table come incontact with said notched roller end and are bent as said member passessaid roller, said roller being spaced from said table to control theangle of bending of said members.

5. Means for bending elongated members comprising a round tablerotatably mounted for rotation about a vertical axis,

means to rotate said table,

member holding means spaced around the periphery of said table,

a notched roller rotatably mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis,

and means to mount said roller for axial movement along its axis toaccommodate the circular movement of said members held by said table,

said roller being located and extending under the end of said table sothat the ends of the said members extending below said table come incontact with said notched roller end and are bent as said member passessaid roller.

6. Means for bending elongated members comprising a round tablerotatably mounted for rotation about a vertical axis,

means to rotate said table,

member holding means spaced around the periphery of said table,

a notched roller rotatably mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis,

said roller being located and extending under the end of said table sothat the ends of the said members extending below said table come incontact with said notched roller end and are bent as said member passessaid roller, and

means to control the angle of bending of said members comprising, meansto adjust the position of said roller relative to said table.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,775,864 9/1930 Olson 72-3111,833,657 11/1931 Nelson 72-207 2,424,917 7/ 1947 Brannock 723802,647,552 8/ 1953 Magnuson et a1. 72-213 RICHARD J. HERBST, PrimaryExaminer. 10 L. A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner.

1. MEANS FOR BENDING RIVETS COMPRISING A ROUND TABLE ROTATABLY MOUNTEDFOR ROTATION ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, MEANS TO ROTATE SAID TABLE, RIVETHOLDING MEANS SPACED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TABLE, A NOTCHEDROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED TO ROTATE ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID ROLLERBEING LOCATED AND EXTENDING UNDER THE END OF SAID TABLE SO THAT THE ENDSOF THE SAID RIVETS EXTENDING BELOW SAID TABLE COME IN CONTACT WITH SAIDNOTCHED ROLLER END AND ARE BENT AS SAID RIVET PASSES SAID ROLLER.